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Sri Lankan FM shot dead in Colombo

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

New Delhi, Aug 13, IRNA
Sri Lanka-Assassination
A suspected sniper shot at Lakshman Kadirgamar, Sri Lanka's minister of foreign affairs, in Colombo's Buller Road Friday night as he was getting into his car.

He underwent emergency surgery in the National Hospital, where he was rushed to with head injuries, but died later, reported the Press Trust of India.

Kadirgamar, a Tamil Christian born on April 12, 1932, was appointed foreign minister of Sri Lanka in April 2004 by President Chandrika Kumaratunga.

Kadirgamar was a long-time supporter of Kumaratunga's Sri Lanka Freedom Party.

The assassination comes amid tensions between the Tamil Tiger rebels and the government, and warnings of renewed violence by truce monitors.

Kadirgamar often said he was a potential target of Tamil Tigers, for the close confidante of President Chandrika Kumaratunga, a Tamil himself, had taken a hardline stance against the rebels and was active in outlawing Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) from many countries including the US and UK.

Tensions had peaked recently after recent exchanges of fire in rebel-controlled areas affected by tsunami disaster.

A political wrangle over a deal to share tsunami aid in devastated northeastern provinces had led the truce monitors to warn against renewed violence.

Rebels themselves had given covert war against them.

Police said only days earlier that there were plans to step up security for Kadirgamar with additional guards. He was already being guarded by some 100 personnel.

In the aftermath of the violent death of the noted minister, President Chandrika Kumaratunga Saturday imposed a state of emergency to deal with the aftermath of the assassination.

Presidential spokesman Eric Fernando said the emergency will go into effect from Saturday.

The emergency gives security forces sweeping powers to arrest and detain suspects for long periods.

The announcement of the state of emergency came as Defense Ministry spokesman Daya Ratnayake asked Colombo residents to remain indoors today to allow a major search operation to go ahead.

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